JAKARTA - The United States must send the F-35 fighter jets that Turkey has paid for, or return the money or provide other products in exchange, the Turkish foreign minister stressed.
Turkey, the producer and buyer of the F-35, was removed from the program last year over its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. It said its removal was unfair and had demanded reimbursement for the $1.4 billion investment in the program.
"We have clarified our views on the S-400. We have been unfairly excluded from the F-35 program despite being one of the partners in it. These planes are not supplied to Turkey," Foreign Minister Mevlüt avuşoğlu told CNN Türk in televised interview, as quoted by the Daily Sabah October 28.
"Either Turkey needs to be sent back to the F-35 program, or the money we paid should be given or compensated with other products," he stressed.
However, any military sales must be approved by the US Congress, which is known for its anti-Turkey stance that has repeatedly damaged bilateral relations.
"If the US does not want to resolve the issue regarding the F-35, or if the US Congress blocks it, Turkey will consider other options," said avuşoğlu.
"Turkey is never without alternatives. When there is a need, (Turkey) can turn to other countries. We have alternatives," he said.
These options include buying Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 or Su-57 fighters, avuşoğlu said, echoing statements by Defense Industry (SSB) Chairman Ismail Demir, who earlier this month also said Turkey could acquire the jets if the US freezes. sale of F-16 fighter aircraft.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Washington offered Ankara a package of F-16 jets and modernization kits in exchange for payment.
The impasse will be the most important topic in the meeting between Erdogan and his American counterpart Joe Biden as they will meet in Glasgow, Scotland on the sidelines of the United Nations climate conference (COP26), which is due to start on October 31.
It is known that Ankara has ordered more than 100 F-35 jets, built by Lockheed Martin, while its defense industry has become a leading player in the development and manufacture of the aircraft.
"We have a US$1.4 billion payment for the F-35. We need to discuss how the payment plan will be," Erdogan said, noting he would have the opportunity to directly confirm whether Washington was willing to return the money via delivery of the F-16.
"If so, we will make a deal on that," President Erdogan continued.
Separately, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the two NATO allies had agreed to resume talks to resolve the F-35 issue.
Representatives from the defense ministries of Turkey and the US held a meeting in the capital Ankara, where they also discussed financial matters, the statement said.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Pentagon also said delegations from the two countries held another round of talks aimed at resolving disputes over the F-35.
Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Anton Semelroth, said top Pentagon officials Andrew Winternitz and Melissa Benkert led a US delegation to Ankara on Oct. 27 "for dispute resolution discussions to address remaining issues, resulting from Turkey's removal from the F-35 program, which were finalized on Sept. 23. "
They were joined by a delegation from the Turkish Defense Ministry, the Pentagon said.
"The meeting demonstrates the commitment of the US administration to respectfully conclude Turkey's previous involvement in the F-35 program," Semelroth said in a statement.
"The discussions were productive, and delegates plan to meet again in the coming months in Washington, DC," he added.
Meanwhile, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin also spoke by phone on Wednesday to discuss cooperation, as well as regional defense and security issues, the Defense Ministry said.
Late Wednesday, top advisers to Erdogan and Biden also discussed defense issues and how to resolve disagreements, the White House said.
To note, the decades-old partnership between NATO allies has experienced unprecedented turmoil in the past five years due to disagreements on many issues, including Syria and Ankara's closer ties to Moscow.
Washington argues that the S-400 Triumf air missile systems could be used by Russia to covertly obtain classified details on F-35 jets and that they are not compatible with NATO systems. Turkey, however, insists that the S-400 will not be integrated into NATO systems and will not pose a threat to the alliance.
The purchase of the S-400 has sparked US sanctions. In December 2020, Washington blacklisted the SSB, Demir's head and three other employees.
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